2006 When It all began- My anniversary journal

It’s My 11th Anniversary in Photography Service, For the next eleven days, I will journey through my experience of beginning Kustom Kreation Photography…

2006 is when my journey officially begin after history of creating picture art and always toting my camera around capturing many amazing events in my journey in life. After encouragement for others I finally decided to invest in my 1st DSLR camera (Nikon D50) thanks to my personal photographer friend Willie Ross of Ross Photography that advised me of what camera to get started with. Once I was able to purchase  my camera I was eager to capture any and everything. I was now a professional photographer and it was time for friends and family to get on board and hire me for all their photography needs. My initial goal was to be like the 20 minute mall photographer where you go right in take pictures and prints done in less then an hour. I would have my new clients come to my in home studio take pictures and print them off from my inkjet computer and viola! I had a studio & printing facility right in the comforts of home. Over time ideas information and processes change. Grateful for all opportunities that came my way in the very 1st beginning. Every dream has to start somewhere and here’s to my evolution in my photography journey! 

Go Kustom! 

This blog is a reblogged originally written 2013! 

Written on our Wordpress Blog here!

Portfolio & Perspectives Highlights

We are excited to share clips from our Portfolio & Perspective Style Shoot workshop! 

This event brought together event planners (stylist) and photographers providing each attendee with physical portfolio and digital images to assist in marketing to their idea client. 

So once you have this portfolio what to do next well we were excited that 

Helena Paschal - Correlations LLC & Helena Motivates & Vanessa Parker (The Pink Boss)- both discuss best business practices, marketing, and branding for your business. 

Anthony James- Head Caterer of Aj's Catering Atlanta spoke on the journey to walk in his passion. 

Next Event September 2018! 

Two Creative

When you come across and accidentally captured moment and you immediately have to process and post.... To see Two of my creative friends assisting a fellow planner in Portfolio & Perspective Workshop! They both operate on the same level of creativity... Out of the box ... Unique.... How did you think of that level... this moment is Priceless!!!! 

Helena Paschal - Correlations LLC - http://www.correlationsllc.com/

Anthony James-  Head Caterer  Aj's Catering Atlanta - 678.773.3458

Labor Day True Confessions - Do the Work!

Labor Day True Confessions: "It's All Good until It's time to do the Work" - I love planning thinking & creating and so much more... I have notebooks filled with ideas on top of ideas!!! It's so much fun to even plan every detail in my imagination... and then it's time to put your thoughts in motion and that's when the real work begins... and those ideas stay tucked away in the beautiful inspiring notebook that I have so many of.... Then there are days that I'm reminded.. you then have a choice is this going to be a figment of my imagination or we going to make this real by putting in the work... Here's to Making small steps to the bigger picture! - 

Books are Magic

Reading Books can most definitely change how you'r feeling. I love how Christina Paschal explained at the recent Pretty Girls Read Book Club Meeting how Books are magic Take a look here!

Portfolio & Perspectives Location Annoucement!!!

We are so excited about our up and coming Portfolio & Perspective Workshop! Over the weekend we announced our location. This perfect loft studio with amazing natural light has our mind going over board with all the creative possibilities!!! If you are photographer or event stylist looking to build your portfolio this interactive workshop is perfect for you! 

Foodie Tuesday By Smarty Marty- Taco Tuesday with Turkey

This week meal is a classic Taco Tuesday... with Turkey and all the delicious fixings!!!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (12 ounce) package ground turkey
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar

Directions

Mix chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and cayenne together in a small bowl.

Cook turkey in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring to break up clumps, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder mixture and water. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.

Stir cider vinegar and brown sugar into the skillet. Simmer until flavors combine, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com 

Images and Styling by Smarty Marty 

Foodie Tuesday By Smarty Marty- Cabbage & Sausage Packets

This week's special recipe is a mix of vegetable and your favorite smoked sausage for a great mix to your weekly food planning! 

Cabbage & Sausage Packets

Ingredient Listing

1 lb. Turkey sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces (or your favorite smoked sausage)
1/2 head of cabbage, cut in 1/4 in wedges
15 small red and white potatoes, quartered
1 large onion, sliced
1/4 cup garlic butter
salt & pepper to taste
4 ice cubes

How to Cook

Preheat your grill to 400 degrees F.
Cut four 18 x 12 inch sheets of foil. 
Divide the cabbage, potatoes and onion over the foil sheets.
Add 1 ice cube to each mound.
Evenly divide the sausage between the packets and top with garlic butter 1 tablespoons per packet, salt and pepper.
Seal each packet well and place in oven for 50 minutes.
Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.

Images and Styling By Smarty Marty 

Foodie Tuesday By Smarty Smarty- Turkey Tostadas

It's Tostadas Tuesday... and Smarty Marty gives you here take on this delightful dish! 

Quick and easy meals for your family... This one Prep time of 25 mins! 

Ingredients:

1 package (20 ounces) lean ground turkey

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 teaspoon canola oil

3/4 cup water

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 can (15-1/2 ounces) hominy, rinsed and drained

12 tostada shells

3 cups shredded lettuce

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend

1 cup chopped tomato

1 cup cubed avocado

Directions:

In a large skillet, cook the turkey, onion and green pepper in oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the water, taco seasoning and hominy. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until heated through.

On each tostada shell, layer the lettuce, about 1/3 cup turkey mixture, cheese, tomato and avocado.Yield: 6 servings.

Recipe - Taste of Home 

Remembering Yesterday- Jade's Roaring 20's Dinner Party!

Flappy Dresses, designer head gear.. feathers pearls and boas all the details for a special 20's theme birthday celebration.  The year was 2012 and in true style Jade Ladson invited us to a intimate dinner party with friends at Brio! Fun Food & Lots of Laughter as we celebrated Jade.  We enjoyed great conversation, dinner and  delicious desserts All guest came dressed in their best 20's gear! 

Jade is always planning something fun and amazing for her friends to celebrate with her! 

Cheers to a great celebration! 

Planning & Styling By J. Ladson Weddings

Speciality 20's theme Decor by The Kustom Shop

Foodie Tuesday By Smarty Marty - Classic Shrimp Boil

Today's Foodie Tuesday is Smarty Marty's take on a classic Shrimp Boil! 

Getting all your ingredients together 

• 2 lemons, halved, plus wedges for serving
• 1/2 cup Old Bay Seasoning
• 8 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 large red onion, quartered
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 pound baby red potatoes
• 4 ears corn, husked and snapped in half
• 1 1/4 pounds large shrimp, unpeeled
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

Directions

Fill a large pot with 4 quarts of water. Squeeze the lemon juice into the water and add the squeezed lemon halves. Add the Old Bay, garlic and onion. Tie the thyme sprigs together with kitchen twine and add to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook about 5 minutes. 

Add the potatoes to the pot and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Add the corn and cook 5 more minutes. 

Meanwhile, slice along the back of each shrimp through the shells; remove the veins and rinse the shrimp. Add to the pot, cover and cook until the shrimp curl and are just opaque, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and vegetables with a slotted spoon or skimmer to a large bowl. Add the butter and about 1 cup broth to the bowl and toss until the butter is melted. Transfer the shrimp and vegetables to a platter. Serve with the remaining broth, lemon wedges and hot sauce, if desired. 

Photography By Smarty Marty

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine

Foodie Tuesday By Smarty Marty- Kale Salad

A quick and easy salad for summer meal time! 

 Smarty Marty's take on Kale Salad! 

Preparation and Ingredients 

• Combine the kale, almonds, apple, and Cheddar in a large bowl.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, salt, garlic and olive oil. Add to the salad, and toss well. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the top, and serve.

Salad Complete Serve with your choice of dressing! 

Images By - Smarty Marty 

A journey to the Alter 7.7.17

We had the pleasure of capturing this beautiful couple as they made the journey to the Alter to become one! Congratulations  John & Brook! 

Kustom Kreaton Photography 

Jaxon & Harper 5th Birthday Celebration

It's always thrilling for us to grow up with families and their children. We were excited to captured these special moments as these two adorable twins celebrated their 5th Birthday Celebration

Happy Birthday Jaxon & Harper! 

So you wanna be in pictures... Contact us today for your next celebration!

www.kustomkreations4u.com 

770.272.2420 

Foodie Tuesday -Smarty Marty's Independence Day Meal Idea!

Happy 4th of July! On this date lots of folks are enjoying family food and later today fireworks! 

So to get your taste buds watering we are presenting this scrumptious summer meal to you! 

Chicken Wing Kabobs! 

These creative kabobs can be placed on the grill for a delicious non tranditional treat for the 4th! 

Image By Smarty Marty! 

Your Dream gift - Waiting for you...

My Gift To You! 

Last year during a chat and chew meet  up with a few of my friends I gifted each one of them with a gift box and scallop paper. Explaining to each one of them that I desire to give them a gift of their hearts. Not really knowing what that is for each one of them the small gift box and scallop paper represented that for me. I also gifted myself with the box as well. With careful thought when I think of desires of my heart I write it down and place it in the box. 

I explain to the ladies to open up their boxes in about six months to see the manifsetiation of their gifts. 

So my gift to all you all today is If you were to receive the desires of your heart what would it be.? Download our gift card here!  Write down your desires place it in your box (create you a pretty box using ribbon and other crafty stuff) Take your time on gifting yourself and I suggest opening up to see what you've manifested in about 6 months! 

Download Your Gift Request Cards

Directions: Download the File Print off File and Cut

If you choose you can use a paper punch and colored paper to create fancy scalloped gift requests (as seen in the image above) 

Remembering Yesterday- Octavia's Baby Shower

The year was 2009 and we had just began our journey of creating custom party supplies. Blue and brown was the baby shower trend and we were super happy to create custom party supplies for our good buddy and friend Octavia! 

We were so excited to create these custom details for the party! Including the game sheets and our homemade maternity dress form! 

We did a complete blue and brown setup including the mother to be chair... 

Delicious Delights 

The mother to be was so excited and surprise to see the complete setup of the shower 

Mother to Be posed with several of the guest from the party! 

Custom Party Supplies & Set up -The Kustom Shop! 

Catering by Angela 

Photography by - Kustom Kreation Photography 

Foodie Tuesday- Smarty Marty Presents Turkey in The Summer

We are excited about this colorful summer meal that would be delicious delights for lunch or dinner for a summertime specialty.  

This week's meal is a Baked Turkey leg with a side salad and corn on the cob.  Simple and Delicious! 

Great way to have a turkey dinner all year around 

Images from Smarty Marty

Foodie Tuesday- Smarty Marty take on Jamaican Escovitch

Are you ready to get your taste buds roaring...

 We are here again for another Foodie Tuesday By Smarty Marty this week dish is 

Jamaican Escovitch

Here is your Ingredient List: 
2 pounds whole red snapper (about 2-3 fish ) or any white fish – cleaned and scaled
½ cup vegetable oil or more as needed
1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 garlic cloves)
½ teaspoon ginger
2 sprigs thyme
1  bay leave
½  red bell pepper, thinly sliced
½  yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1  yellow medium onion, thinly sliced
1  medium carrot Julienne

1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon Jamaican all spice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 Scotch bonnet pepper, pierced or replace with ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1  lime
¾ cup malt vinegar ( sub red wine vinegar)
add
Freshly ground white pepper
 

Instructions:
Season fish with salt and black pepper and fry for about 5 minutes each side.
Dry fish with paper towel and pan, set aside
Cut and chop vegetables and put aside.
Put vinegar and sugar into a saucepan and bring to a boil, allow to reduce slightly
Add carrots and let simmer for about a minute
Add red and green bell peppers a simmer for a minute
Add onion and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the onion is transparent
Add scotch bonnet pepper and stir
Place fish into serving dish and spoon dressing on top.

Images By Smarty Marty ! 

It's a Celebration of Father!

To all the daddies of the world!!! We salute you!!!

Happy Father's day!!! 

Kustom Kreation Photography